And in Satellite news today….
Yea, we know – that sounds boring, but actually, its not really. Sure, its not about targeted advertising in a chat room or on your mobile phone or avatars to promote social networking, but it does actually affect a lot of things citizens take for granted.
SatNews reported today that the EU will take over the Galileo satellite navigation project from the private sector. Who cares you think to yourself? Well this decision will cost the EU about $12 billion before the 30 satellite constellation becomes operational after 2013. This is big news on a two fronts that interest us – one, because they are taking it over from the private sector of companies charged with getting operational by June – those big brand names touted their efficiency over the government but it seems that they can’t see to pull it off – maybe its all that Web 2.0 technology or mobileTV content that is diverting their focus. The Galileo consortium includes EADS, Thales and Alcatel-Lucent, Inmarsat, Finmeccanica, AENA, Hispasat, Deutsche Telekom and the German Aerospace Center. Let’s add that up – UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and France- all wanting to put one big super power satellite system in the sky. Sounds like the beginning of a bad sci-fi novel to me.
But, all cynicism aside, why do we care about a 30 satellite constellation? Galileo will be the first global navigation satellite system geared to civil-user needs (that means EU citizens) which will not only offer, but provide continuity and guaranteed services. The complete constellation will offer citizens and institutional users state-of-the-art global positioning and timing services with outstanding accuracy, availability, integrity and a guaranteed signal.
You know – Satellites do a ton of stuff for us that we don’t even think about – sure we can get Satellite TV and radio, but they actually are the powerhouses behind most of our communications today. And plus, its much more dramatic to follow. So just when you think Satellites are boring – pick up the saga of Galileo.
